Furious by Jill Wolfson Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Three girls are introduced, all leading separate lives, having different problems, and going to the same school. One thing they have in common is their hot tempers. Very easily do they get mad, and when they do, precautions must be taken. Ambrosia, a classmate, calls all three to her house one day, to get to know them. Instead, she ignites their … Read more
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Lily’s brother decides she needs a boyfriend, so he leaves a mysterious red Moleskine notebook among the used books at Strand’s (bookstore) for someone worthy to find. That someone is Dash (Dashiell), who is Lily’s age, loves the OED (Oxford English Dictionary), and has the most swoon-worthy musings. After leading him on a scavenger hunt … Read more
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Adventure Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Wade (aka Parzival), 18, spends most of his time in the OASIS, the massive virtual world created by Jim Halliday and Ogden Morrow. He attends a virtual school – which is way better than a bricks and mortar school for so many reasons (not the least of which is that there’s no PvP on school grounds, and … Read more
Ashes Ashes #1 by Ilsa Bick Horror Supernatural Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) An electromagnetic pulse hits the Earth, killing millions and turning others into cannibals. Alex, the main character, meets up with many different people, trying to survive. I liked how it all came together and clicked. I disliked how slow this was at the beginning – it didn’t hook me very well.
The Alchemyst Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1 by Michael Scott Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Twins Josh & Sophie Newman’s lives are turned upside down by the revelation that they are supposed to be the saviors of mankind. They are told they are the twins of Gold and Silver by Josh’s employer, a bookseller who turns out to be an alchemyst named Nicholas Flamel – and he’s over … Read more
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy Fantasy Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) Four Princes Charming team up to save Cinderella from the clutches of the evil witch, Zaubera in this funny fairytale mashup. Zaubera has also kidnapped all of the kingdom’s bards as a publicity stunt (she wants people to know her NAME), and they must also be rescued. Unfortunately, all of the princes (except Liam) are pretty inept … Read more
The Awakening by Kate Chopin Classic Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Edna Pontellier falls in love with Robert even though she’s married with 2 kids. She fails to find liberation from society and commits suicide. I liked this because it was very realistic. Chopin beautifully captured the progress of Edna’s emotions up until her death.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake Audio edition Horror Supernatural Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) Cas is a professional teenage ghost hunter. He uses his father’s athame (specially blessed – or possibly cursed – knife) to send harmful, destructive, dangerous spirits to their eternal rest. His father was killed several years ago, and while Cas is following in his footsteps, he’s also amassing the knowledge, experience, and power he will need … Read more
A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) In a future where a confusion of princes rules the stars, millions of princes (specially augmented humans with all different kinds of tek built into their bodies and psionic powers) selected for their superior genetics are specially trained to rule, duel, and – if they’re chosen – compete for the honor of becoming the Emperor. Prince Khemri has just finished … Read more
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor Fantasy * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Sunny is a young albino American-Nigerian who has been living in Nigeria since her mother had a premonition that something bad was going to happen to her if she stayed in the States. Her father never wanted a daughter and certainly never wanted to go back to Nigeria, so he holds a grudge against her. When Sunny’s classmate, Orlu, introduces her to … Read more